SOUTH DAKOTA STATE ADDS 11 TO 2023-24 ROSTER

BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota State softball program has added 11 student-athletes to its squad as part of its 2023 recruiting class. The group includes players across multiple positions. Expected to join the Jackrabbits in the fall of 2023 are Akayla Barnard, Addison Blomberg, Abby Gentry, Kierra Goos, Hailey Herman, Trinity Kennemmer, Khloe Kubitschek, Quinn Marnocha, Maddie McGee, Shayla Rundberg and Kayla Seto.

"I'm thrilled to be able to welcome these 11 women to our family," SDSU head coach Kristina McSweeney said. "This group represents our first class that coach Josh Bertke, coach Brittany Gomez-Olson and I worked on together. This class I believe will build upon the recent success this program has had and carry it forward. I look forward to having them all in Brookings with us next year."

Akayla Barnard | 5-7 | Pitcher/Utility | R/R | Cabot, Ark. | Cabot High School
Akayla Barnard helped her Cabot High School team to a conference title and the Arkansas Class 6A Championship game where they finished runner-up this past spring. She received all-conference, all-state and all-state tournament accolades in 2022 along with earning her high school team's Offensive Player of the Year award. The season prior, Barnard was also an all-conference and all-state selection. The 2021 season saw her awarded her team's Defensive Player of the Year award. Academically, she is a 4.0 GPA student. Barnard plans to major in education.

Addison Blomberg | 5-5 | Outfielder | R/R | Fitchburg, Wis. | Verona Area High School
Addison Blomberg was a first team all-conference choice and honorable mention all-district selection in 2022. Blomberg batted .355 this past season behind 22 hits and had an on-base percentage of .444. She plans to study computer science at South Dakota State.

Abby Gentry | 5-5 | Catcher/Utility | R/R | Benton, Ark. | Bryant High School
Abby Gentry is a standout for Bryant High School. She broke six of her high school softball team's single-season records this past spring. She batted .631, recorded 65 hits, scored 58 runs, had an on-base percentage of .664, slugging percentage of 1.164 and OPS of 1.829. Gentry also registered 11 home runs and 41 RBIs. A two-time all-conference performer, Gentry was an all-state performer in 2022. She also was chosen to the Arkansas All-Preps Team and Arkansas' Junior All-Star Team in 2022. Gentry plans to major in exercise science.

Kierra Goos | 5-8 | Pitcher | R/R | Manhattan, Kan. | Manhattan High School
Kierra Goos earned First Team All-State honors in 2022 at the utility position in Kansas. A high performer for Manhattan on the mound and at the plate, she recently hit .372, had an on-base percentage of .439 and recorded a .640 slugging percentage. Goos hit two home runs, scored eight runs and registered 24 RBIs. She also pitched 103 innings and struck out 94 batters. Goos also was part of a Missouri 4A State Championship team in 2019. She plans to major in biology.

Hailey Herman | 5-9 | Pitcher | R/R | Kansas City, Mo. | Staley High School
Hailey Herman has earned all-conference first team, all-region and all-district accolades while on the mound for Staley High School. She's been an all-district performer in the circle on multiple occasions, while she also claimed all-conference first team honors once at the utility position. Her oldest sister pitched at Central Arkansas. Herman plans to study pre-dental at SDSU.

Trinity Kennemer | 5-9 | Infielder | R/R | Surprise, Ariz. | Willow Canyon High School
Trinity Kennemer has won two consecutive 5A State Softball Championships with her Willow Canyon High School team. Kennemer has been a two-time all-conference first team honoree, while in 2022 she added all-region and all-district accolades to her resume. She also was her conference' Defensive Player of the Year. In 2021, Kennemer hit .407 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. She topped those marks in 2022 as she batted .542, smacked nine home runs and drove in 47 runs. Her performance earned her All-West Valley Preps First Team and AZ Central Top Performers List highlights. She also was a PGF All-American Regional Finalist in 2022 and was No. 57 on the Class of 2023 Extra Elite 100 list. Kennemer plans to study athletic training at SDSU.

Khloe Kubitschek | 5-8 | Infielder | R/R | Broomfield, Colo. | Life Christian Academy
Khloe Kubitschek was a member of a summer club national championship team in 2018 and claimed MVP honors. For her high school softball team, Kubitschek has been named an All-conference Second Team selection twice. She has earned multiple Academic All-State honors and has been a member of her school's Honor Roll. Kubitschek's sister Katelyn played softball at Dickinson State, while her other sister, Kylie, is currently playing at Rosemont College. Kubitschek plans to major in criminology.

Quinn Marnocha | 5-9 | Outfielder/Utility | R/R | Neenah, Wis. | Neenah High School
Quinn Marnocha has earned both second team and honorable mention all-conference honors at Neenah High School. In 2021, she led Neenah with seven home runs. She's been active on her club team and helped them claim Top Gun National titles in 2021 and 2022. This past summer she hit over .400 in three tournament appearances. She finished the summer by hitting .330 with six home runs and six hits over 94 games to go along with 94 RBIs. Marnocha plans to major in biology.

Maddie McGee | 5-3 | Infielder | R/R | Elkhorn, Neb. | Millard North High School
Maddie McGee was a three-year contributor for her high school team. Her best season of her prep career at the plate came as a junior. That season, McGee batted .337, hit eight home runs, recorded 22 RBIs and scored 29 runs in 32 games. McGee plans to major in communications and journalism at SDSU.

Shayla Rundberg | 5-3 | Catcher/Utility | R/R | Jackson, Wis. | West Bend East High School
Shayla Rundberg earned first team all-conference accolades at catcher in 2022 and picked up a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Player of the Week award during the season as well. Rundberg batted .351 while slugging .561. She also had a .948 fielding percentage. A member of National Honor Society and her school's High Honor Roll, Rundberg plans to major in human biology at SDSU.

Kayla Seto | 5-6 | Infielder/Utility | L/R | Gilbert, Ariz. | Chandler High School
Kayla Seto is a slap-hitter who hails from Gilbert, Arizona. She plans to major in sport management.

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Texas Southern on February 6, 2026 at 9 a.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Stephen F. Austin on February 6, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Bucknell on February 7, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball at East Texas A&M on February 7, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Stephen F. Austin on February 8, 2026 at 11:15 a.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball at Baylor on February 10, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Completed Event: Softball versus Augustana on October 5, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus Minnesota Crookston on September 28, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus Sioux Falls / Morningside on September 21, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus SMSU on September 14, 2025 ,

Completed Event: Softball versus #3 South Dakota on May 9, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3 , 8 Inn.

Completed Event: Softball versus #1 Omaha on May 9, 2025 , Loss , 6, to, 8 , 9 Inn.

South Dakota State University Athletics

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE ADDS 11 TO 2023-24 ROSTER

Related News

Related Videos